Modified bases also occur in DNA.

The first of these recognised was 5-methylcytosine, which was

found in the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 1925.[36] The complete replacement of
cytosine by 5-glycosylhydroxymethylcytosine in T even phages (T2, T4 and T6) was observed in
1953.[37] In the genomes of Xanthomonas oryzae bacteriophage Xp12 and halovirus FH the full
complement of cystosine has been replaced by 5-methylcytosine.[38][39] 6N-methyladenine was
discovered to be present in DNA in 1955.[40] N6-carbamoyl-methyladenine was described in
1975.[41] 7-Methylguanine was described in 1976.[42] N4-methylcytosine in DNA was described in
1983.[43] In 1985 5-hydroxycytosine was found in the genomes of the Rhizobium phages RL38JI and
N17.[44] α-putrescinylthymine occurs in both the genomes of the Delftia phage ΦW-14 and
the Bacillus phage SP10.[45] α-glutamylthymidine is found in the Bacillus phage SP01 and 5-
dihydroxypentyluracil is found in the Bacillus phage SP15.
The reason for the presence of these noncanonical bases in DNA is not known. It seems likely that
at least part of the reason for their presence in bacterial viruses (phages) is to avoid the restriction
enzymes present in bacteria. This enzyme system acts at least in part as a molecular immune
system protecting bacteria from infection by viruses.
This does not appear to be the entire story. Four modifications to the cytosine residues in human
DNA have been reported.[46] These modifications are the addition of methyl (CH3)-, hydroxymethyl
(CH2OH)-, formyl (CHO)- and carboxyl (COOH)- groups. These modifications are thought to have
regulatory functions.
Uracil is found in the centromeric regions of at least two human chromosomes (chromosome
6 and chromosome 11).[47]